Door-operating mechanism.



A. I. ROSENTRETER.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IuIY 1. IQII.

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A. J. ROSENTRETER.

DooR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I. 1917.

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A. I. ROSINTRITER.4

000B OPERATING MEcHAmsM.

- APPLICATION FILED IULY I. ISI?. 1,282,128, Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UMH-ED STATES ma ALBERT J. ROSENTRETER, 0F BOON'TON, NEW JERSEY, SSIGNOR '10 EIIKAR.ZABRISKE,4

0F MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, AND FRANK E. HUTCHXNS, 0F NEW YORK, Y.

DOOR-OPERATING MECJANISM.

To all whom t may concern.' Beit known that l, ALBERT J. Rosen- TRETER, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Boonton, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Door-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification. y

vThe invention pertains more particularly topmechanism for operating the doors of garages, although equallyapplicable to other doors and-situations, and it consistsin the novel features, arrangements and combina-i tions of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims." I present my invention herein as applied to two pairs of hinged doors with the hinges for the two outer doors 'arranged for the swinging` of said doors eitheroutwardly orl inwardly, asmay be predetermined, and

-with hinges connecting the ytwo inner doors to the front stiles of the two outer doors l arranged'to permit said inner doors while being opened to fold against the said outer doors, thus creating in a convenient way a wide opening. at the doorway for the en-` trance of automobiles and the like.

The mechanism of my invention is des signed to be electrically operated, and to this end and to carry out the further purposes of` my invention I provide two outwardly diverging tracks or tramways to receive rollers swiveled to the upper front a Stiles of the two inner doors so that during the opening movement of the .doors the front portions of the inner doors may be suitably supported and said doors be causedto fold against the two outer doors, and further I provide a reversing motor whose shafts are connected with screw-threaded or worm shafts engaging nuts and suitable connections leading therefrom to the two outer doors, for opening said, doors when the motor is operating in one direction and clos- ,ing said doors when the motorisoperating in the'reversedirection. The movement of the two outer doors is relied upon to, in cooperation with the aforesaid 'tracks or tramways, to move` the two inner. doors to open l and closed positions. I f n My invention kkalso providesfmeans forI cushioningthe opening and closingimove- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented EGO 22, 1913. Application mea :my s', ieri. serial ne. wams. v

by a continued motion of the motor under momentum' after the power hasbeen cut ofi' therefrom. l also provide means ier automatically cutting olif the power from the motor at the ends of the proper movements of the doors and also in the event of some obstruction to the opening or closing movements of the doors or accident to the apparatus whereby if the motor continued in motion some `"damage might ensue,

My inventionis applicable to a single pair of doors opening either outwardly or inwardly, but I present the same herein as applied to two pairs of doors having simultaneous operation and each pair being equipped with the features of my invention.

The building equipped with the doors and door operating features of my invention' will be provided with suitable switch mechanism whereby an attendantA by moving a f switch in one direction may start the motor in operation to open the door and by moving said switch in av reverse direction reverse said motor in operation to closethe doors.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed escription hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure l is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a set of four hinged doors equipped with the. door operating mechanisni of my invention, said mechanism being utilized` both for opening and closing the doors;

Fig. 2 is a topview of the same; e l

Fig. 3` ,is a longitudinal section, partly broken way, of a portion of the door operating mechanism, this iigure illustratiii the mechanismv shown at the upper left han y portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a portion of one door, the door framing and a .part of the operating mechanism, taken on the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is vertical section through a por-A tion of the door, door framing and o erating mechanism, taken on the dotte line the motor at the ends of the movements of the doors and also should there arise an obposition;

Fig. 9 is a top view, partly broken away, of the mechanism of my invention and presents a modification in that the doors are hinged to open inwardly into a garage or other room, whereas in Figs. l to 8 inclusive said doors are shown as hinged to open outwardly, and

Fig. 10 isa view diagrammatically illus trating the electric circuits.

In the drawings, 15, 16, 17, 18 denote a set of four doors, the outer doors 15,18 being hinged yto the general framing 19 of the building, and the doors l16, 17 being hinged at their back Stiles tothe front stilesbf the doors 15, 18, and the hinges being so arranged, when desired, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, as to permit duringthe opening movement of the doors, the doors 15, 18 to swing outwardly and the -doors 16, 17 also to swing outwardly and fold againstthe rear faces of the doors 15, 18. 20 designates l the hinges for the doors 15, 18 andy21 the hinges connecting the doors 16, 17 with the doors 15, 18, respectively.

Above and somewhat to the front of the doors I provide outwardly diverging tracks or tramways 22, 23', which are open at their lower edges and at their upper side vare secured to supporting brackets 24, which are fastened to the framing 25 over thedoors. The tracks 22, 23 are adapted to re-r ceive Vand afford tramways or rails for rollers 26 carried by vertical rods 27 whichV are swiveled in Ithe upper horizontal por- .tions of brackets 28 fastened to the front Stiles of the doors 16, 17. The rollers 26 are-swiveled because they travel along the diverging courses presented by the tracks 22, 23 during the opening and closing movements `of the doors, and hence during such movement of the doors said rollers 26 adapt themselves in the varying positions of the doors to the tracks 22, 23. The doors 16, 17 are supported by being hinged to the doors y15, 18 and alsoby means of the rollers 26 confined within the tracks or tramways 22` 23.

The actuating mechanismfor opening and closing the doors comprises a reversing motor 29 of commercial type secured to the frame 25 and project-ing` frontwardly beyond the doorway for the doors, and in the present instance I utilize the motor 29,

for simultaneously operating the two` pairs 'ioned by said springs so t of doors show n in Fig. 1, the mechanism extending from the motor for actuating the doors 15,16 being in all essential respects the same as the mechanism extending from said motor for operating the doors 17, 18. The mechanism for operating each pair of doors comprises a worm shaft 30 whose inner end is connected by a universal joint 31 with the shaft of the motor, so that said worm 30 may be driven from said motor and 'also readily yield to such angular movement as it may be required to take during the openber 39 of a supporting bracket 40 which extends below the track 22 or 23, as the case may be, and is fastened to the upper portion of the outer door, and the purpose of swiveling the box 34 upon the bracket 40 is to permit said box to yield angularly with the sleeve 33 and threaded shaft or worm 30 during the opening and closing movements of the doors.

The operation of the mechanism thus far articularly described is, as follows: Assumlng that the doors 15, 16, 17, 18 are in closed position and it is desired to open them, the

-motor 29vwil1 be set in motion to rotate the shafts 30 Within the nuts 32 and in a direction to' cause said nuts to travel outwardly from said motor. The effect of `this rotation of the shafts 30 is to cause the nuts 32 and sleeves 33 to travel outwardly on said shafts and cause the disks 37 `on said sleeves 'to press against the springs 35 and through said sprin against the boxes 34 and outer `portions o the brackets 40, Vwhich will then operate as cranks to turn the doors 15, 18 outwardly on their hinges 20 in the manner represented in Fig. 8, and at the same time the doors 16, 17 will, byreason of their connection with the doors 15, 18, follow said doors 15, 18 and fold against the same, the rollers 26 connected with said doors 16, 17 following along the outwardly diverging guidedl thereby. The pressure of the disks or the like 37against the s rings 35 is cushiiat the doors are opened without shock or strain,`and in addition the springs 35 serve to take up such movement as may be imparted to the sleeves 33 from the screw-shafts or worms 30 by the i momentum of the motor 29 after the cilrrent has been cut olf from said motor, and

l regardthisparticular feature of the operation as important. During the opening movement of the doors the boxes 34may swivel on the brackets 40 and the inner ends of the threaded shafts or worms 30, by reason of the universal joints 31, may yield to such angular movement as the boxes 34 may have, relieving the operative'mechanism from strain during they opening movement of the doors and permitting said doors lto open uniformly and positively and in an .15,18 atthis time causing the doors 16, 17

to unfold therefrom and travel alongI the tramways or tracks 22,23 to their initial closed position. During the closing movement of the doors, the boxes 34 may swivel ,on the brackets and the threaded shafts or worms 30 may yield by reason of the universal ,joints 31 to such `extent as may be required by the movement ofthe doors.

' During the closing movement ofthe doors,

the springs 36 serveto permit. the doors to vbe closedwithout slamming and also to permit any extraturn or more of the motor, under momentum, after the power has been cut olf therefrom Y without jamming the shafts and nuts 32 together. The vsprings 36 operate on the closing Vmovement of the doors in the same mannerthat the springs 35 operate on the opening movement of the doors. .The disk 37 xconstitutes merely a ,bearing or shoulder for engaging vthe] springs 35, 36 andmay be of any suitable form or construction.

I also provide automatic means for c uttingoff the current from the motor 29 at the ends of the opening and closingmovements of the doors and also atany 4inter,- mediate points in said movements, in the.

n event of obstruction to the movement of n do the doors, and this mechanism comprises a rod 41 connected withia pivoted switch 42 andl extending fto the left, looking at Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and a rod 43 extending from said switch 42 to the right for coperation with the mechanism provided for the doors 17, 18; The switch 42 is mounted on a pin 44 extending upwardly from a plate 45, and said switch 42 at its free end lies between conductors 46, 47, which are movable in boxes 48, 49 mounted on said plate 45 and which contain contactv platesk 50, 51 adjacent to the inner ends of the conductors 46, 47

and comprised within the circuit wires. The rod 41 has suitable spaced-apart collars 52, 53 thereon to serve as stops, and said rod 41 to the limit accorded by said stops is slidable within a. sleevek 54 having a depending portion 55 loosely mounted within a sleeve 56 formed on the bracket-arm 57 which may be integral with the box 34. rlhe sleeve 54 by reason of its depending portion or stem 55 may have rotary movement within the sleeve 56, so as to accommodate itself and the rod 41 to the movement of the arm 57. Within the depending portion of the sleeve 54 is mountedja vertical pin 58 (Fig. 3) which is in the nature of a brake and has a. lower head 59 resting upon a pivoted block 60, the latter being pivotally secured by means of a pin 61 between depending side portions 62 of the sleeve 56. Upon the sleeve 33 are two collars 63, 64, one being at each side of the block and extending above the lower edge of the same, as shown in Fig. 3. During thev opening movement of the doors the sleeve 54, looking at Fig. 3, will travel outwardly on the rod 41 and may, when reaching the stop 52, shift the rod 41 sufficiently to move the switch 42 and break the circuit through the motor, and during the closing movement -of the doors the 4sleeve 54 upon reaching the collar 53 and \moving slightly farther against said collar, may shift 'the rod 41 to break the circuit through the motor. The circuit through the motor therefore is automatically broken at the end of the opening movement of the doors and at the end of the closing movement of the doors. The rod 43 is equipped with collars 52, 53, and the box 34 for the right hand doors 17, 18 is provided with an arm 57 and associated with a sleeve 54 andv other features extending from the sleeve 54 to the sleevel 33, including the collars 63, 64 on said sleeve, the parts being duplicated for each pair of doors.

i It-may happen that due to obstruction to the doors or other cause, the motor should havejthe current cut ofi' `therefrom before the doors reach either their open position or htheir closed position, and to effect this result is the purpose of the brake pin 58` head 59 thereon, block 60 and collars 63, 64. 1f during either the opening or closing mo.vement of the doors, one or the other` collars 63, 64 should'press against `and tilt the block 60 sufliciently to bind the brake pin 58 against the rod 41 (or the rod 43 as the case may be), the sleeve 33 then in motion and acting through said brake pin will transmit its motion to said rod 41 (or the rod 43) and thereby cause said rod to act through the switch 42 and cut off the lcurrent from the motor, thus bringing the motor to rest and causing the parts of the mechanism to remain stationary until the difliculty, whatever it might be, could be corrected, and in this way avoiding strain or breakage of the parts.

The rods 41, 43 are cushioned in their relation to the switch 42, as shown inFigs. 3 and 6. The rod 41 is provided with collars 65, 66 and springs 67, 68 bearing against said collars and against collars 69, 70 at the opposite sides of a block 71 pivotally mounted on the end of the switch 42 and through which block the rod 41 may have a limited sliding movement, being cushioned. in said movement in one direction by the spring 67 and in the other direction by the spring 68. The springs 67, 68 cushion the movement of the rod 41, and hence at no time is there any harsh action of said rod against vthe switch 42. The rod 43 in its connection with the 'switch 42 is provided with the same mech- Y tween the collars 74, 76. The rod 41 is cushioned by the springs 67 68 and the rod 43 is cushioned by the. springs` 77, 78, and these cushioning springs are useful, whether the currentis cut ofi' from the motor by the engagement of the sleeve 54 with one or the other of the collars 52, 53 on the rod 41 -at the ends of the opening and closing movements of the doors or whether due to accident or other irregularity, the brake pins 58 are caused to engage the rod 41 or the rod 43 andV by binding against the same effect the cutting oli" of the current from the motor 29.

The motor will be included in an electric circuit and the current may be applied thereto or cut oi therefrom by the manual movement of a switch 79 and other connections to be hereinafter referred to and which are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate a modification of my inventionwhich resides merely `in providing suitable levers for causing the doors to fold inwardly into the garage when being opened instead of outwardly therefrom, and this arrangement of the doors does not involve any change in the operative mechanism hereinbefore described, except that the same will be connected with said levers.

In Fig. 9 the doors are numbered 80, 81

and the hinges therefor V82, 83. Upon they jamb 84 is secured a bracket 85, and this bracket has pivoted in its end portion a bellcrank-lever, one arm 86 of which is connected by a link 87 with the door 80 and the other arm of which is pivoted to a box 88 (corresponding with the aforesaid box 34) connected with the sleeve 89 which-cortesponds with the sleeve 33 of Fig. 3. The

sleeve 89 is connected with a nut 90 which receives the threaded shaft 91 connected by a universal joint 92 with the shaft of the motor 93. 94 denotes the switch operating rod corresponding with the rod 41 of Fig. 3. The connection of the rod 94 with the sleeve 89 is the same as that described with respect to the construction shown in Fig. 3, and therefore further explanation at this place is not required. When the sleeve 89 is caused to travel inwardly, it operates through the bellcrank-lever and link 87 tol push the door 80 outwardly to open position, and this door will take with it the door 81. In the construction shown in Fig. 9 the door 81 will be equipped with rollers and a tramway corresponding with the rollers and tramway on the door 16, shown in Fig. 5. In the construction shown in Fig. 9 the sleeve 89 travels inwardly toward the motor when pushing the door 80 to open position, and has a reverse travel when the link 87 is to draw the door 80 to closed position.

The diagram of the circuits illustrated in Fig. 10 represents the usual and ordinary wiring for a reversing motor of commercial type. When the switch 79 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 10 engaging the contacts 100,101 the circuit is made to rotate the motor-in one direction, and when the switch 79 is turned to engage the contacts 102, 103 a circuit will be made to rotate the motor in the reverse direction, and when the switch 79 is turned to an intermediate position between the contacts 100, 101 and 102, 103 there will be no circuit through the motor and the motor will not operate. The only addition I have made to the wiring of the motor is the presence of the pivoted switch 42 and contacts 46, 47 in the switch boxes 48, 49 which are in themselves of comv mercial type. The contacts 46, 47 are rods ductors and insulated from the body of said rods, and normally the tips of both rods 46, 47 are in electrical connection with the conducting contact plates 50, 51 of. both switch boxes l1&8-,49 When the switch 42 isin its normal position shown in Figs. 6 and 10, the tips of both rods 46, 47 engage -the contacts 50, 51 and the wiring is then in condition for the switch 79 to be turned into engagement with the contacts 100, 101 or with the contacts 102, 103. When the rod 41 or the rod 43 is pulled to move the switch 42, said switch willpress against and drive inwardly one of the rods 46, 47, according to which of the rods 41, 43 may be pulled, this pulling being either by engagement with oneof the collars 52, 53 or by `the action of the brake-pin 58, and when the switch 42 is turned to drive one of the rods 46, 47 inwardly, the spring 104 of the other rod Will draw said rod outwardly toward the switch 42 and remove its conducting tip portion from electrical engagement with the Contact plates 50, 5l, thereby breaking the circuit and stopping the motor.` My invention, therefore, does lnot modify the motor nor its wiring nor the switch 79, but merely interposes in the wiring. a limitv switch for breaking the circuit through the motor at the ends of the movements of the doors and also in the event of an accident preventing the doors from opening while the motor is in operaoccasion may render convenient.k

, What YI claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent. is: l

i l. Door operating mechanism comprising in combination with. a door, an electric motor, a screw threaded shaft connected with said motor, a nut .to travel on said shaft, means connecting said'nut with the door including an interposed cushion to permit thenut to have limited movement independently of the door, and means operable from thesaid nutfor cutting off the power from the motor when the door jams. i /J 2. Door operating mechanism comprising in combination with a door, an electric mo tor, a screw threaded shaft connected with Said motOr, anut -to `travel on. said shaft, means connecting' said nut with the door'including interposed opposite cushions to permit the nut to have limitedv movement in leither direction .independently of the door,

` and meansl operable from said n t for cutl' ting off the power from the motori whenvthe door jams. v i 'e A 3. Door operating mechanism comprising y .in combination with an inner door hinged -to the door .framing and an outer door hinged to saidirst door and to be folded toward the same von the opening of said doors,

an electric motor, ,a screwk threaded shaft flexibly connected at one end with said mo tor,` a nut to travel on said shaft, means flexibly connectingsaid nut with said inner door and including means lfor permitting said nut i to havelimited'movement independently of f cutting oif l i k'ends of .the opening and closing movements v ing track for said outerdoor. i

' forA actuatingthe power cutlo meansv when said doors means operable from said nut for the powerfrom theemotor` at the of the doors, means operable from said nut the. doors jamand a supporting and guida screwethreaded shaft connected with said motor, a nut to travel on said shaft, a sleeve connected with said nut, a box connected with thedoor and containing oppositely disposed springs, a shoulder on said sleeve interposed between said springs, whereby said nut may have limited movement in either direction after power has been cut off from the' motor, a

cut-ofi' switchforcutting od power from the motor and means connected with said box forl actuating said switch to break the circuit at the ends of the openingand closing l mvements of the door.

5. Door operating mechanism comprising in combination with a door, an electric motor, a screw-threaded shaft connected with said motor, a nut to travel on said shaft, a sleeve connected with said nut, a

box connected with the door and containing oppositely. disposed springs, a shoulder on said sleeve interposedbetween said springs, whereby said nut may have limited movement in either direction after power has been cut off from the motor, aout-oil switch for cutting off power froml the motor, and means connected with said sleevefor actuating said switch to break the circuit when the door jams.

6. Door operating mechanism comprising in combination with a door, an electric motor, a screw-threaded shaft connected with said motor, a nut to travel on said shaft, a sleeve connected with said nuta box connected with the door and containing oppositely disposed springs, a shoulder on said sleeve interposed between said springs, whereby said nut may have limited movement in either direction afterv .power has been cut offv fromthe motor, a cut-oil switch 'for cutting ofi' power from the motor, a rod for actuating ,the saine having definitely spaced apart shoulders thereon, an arm connectedwith said box, and a sleeve connected tween its said shoulders, whereby said sleeve iio by engaging one or the other of said shoull 'ders at/ the end ofthe opening or closing movement of thedoor may cut off the power 'from said motor.

7. Door operating mechanism comprising 1n combination with a door, an electric motor,

a screw-threaded shaft connected with said' motor, a nut to travel on said shaft, a sleeve `connected with said nut, a .box connected with the door and containingfoppositely disposed springs, a shoulder'on said sleeve interposed between said springs, whereby said nut may have limited -movement 'in either direction. after power has been cutoff from the motor, a cut-off switch for cut- .'ting off powei` from the motor, al rodl for actuating the same and a brake operable from said sleeve for engaging said rod to move rthe same and cut off power from said motor when the door jams.

8, Door operating mechanism comprising in combination with'an-inner door hinged to the door framing and an outer door hinged to said first door and to be folded toward the same on the opening of said doors and away from the same on the closing of said doors, an electric motor, a screwthreaded shaft fiexibly connected at one end with said motor, a nut to travel on said shaft, a sleeve connected with said nut, a box swiveled to said inner door and containing oppositely disposed springs, a shoulder on said sleeve interposed between said springs whereby said nut may have limited movement in either direction after power has been cut off from said motor, a wheel swiveled on said outer door, a track for said wheel supporting and guiding said outer door, a cut-oli" switch for cutting olf power from the motor, a rod for actuating the same having definitely spaced apart shoulders thereon, an arm connected with said box, and [a sleeve pivot'ally connected with said arm and slidable on said rod between its said shoulders, whereby said sleeve by engaging one or the other of said shoulders at the end of the opening or closing movement of the doors may cut oil the power of said motor.

9. Door operating mechanism comprising in combination with an inner door hinged to the door framing and an outer door hinged to said first door and to be folded htoward the same on the opening -of said has been cut off from said motor, a wheel swiveled on said outer door, a track for said wheel supporting and guiding said outer door, aout-off switch for cutting off power from the motor, a rod vfor actuating the same, and a brake operable from said sleeve for engaging said rod to move the same and cut off power .from said motor when the doors jam.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of-New York, this 6th day of July, A. D. 1917.

. ALBERT J. ROSENTRETER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR MARION, CEAS. C. GILL. 

